Softcat to supply software to universities

The Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) has selected Softcat, along with a small number of other suppliers, to provide software licence reseller services to over a hundred higher and further education institutes in the UK. Potentially worth £60m per year, this is the first contract of its kind for UK universities to purchase software under a national agreement.

The new framework contract will help higher and further education institutes across the UK to attain the best value for their software licensing over the next three years, although SUPC retains the option to extend the framework for a further year. Educational institutions already purchase much of their software from resellers and it is expected that framework resellers will provide added-value services. Softcat, with its supplier status for Microsoft, Adobe, VMware and other software, successfully tendered for all four lots under the agreement.

"This contract is hugely important to Softcat as part of our continued investment in and commitment to working with higher education institutions," Nick Berry, Softcat's education business development manager, said. "Softcat has in excess of 20 specialist account managers who are dedicated to working with higher education institutions. They are trained to the highest level on Microsoft, Adobe, VMware and other leading software products in order to provide the best possible advice and support on education licensing agreements to our valued customers. We look forward to working closely with SUPC member institutions and assisting them in providing best value software licensing solutions for both staff and students."

Andy Bruen, Softcat's public sector frameworks manager, said, "We are delighted to have been awarded a place as a supplier on the software contract. It reflects our historic association and strengths in selling software. Inclusion on more and more national university contracts is allowing Softcat to have more meaningful cross product conversations with university customers, helping to deliver considerable 'value add' in our relationships."

Softcat is one of Microsoft's fastest-growing public sector large account resellers, with top tier accreditation as an Adobe Platinum Reseller and Education Platinum Reseller. Earlier this month, Softcat won the acclaimed Reseller of the Year 2012 at this year's CRN Channel Awards, a record breaking third year in a row. Other recent awards include Adobe's Commercial Partner of the Year, VMware's Partner of the Year and SMB Partner of the Year, Mimecast Partner of the Year (for the fourth year in a row), Symantec Commercial Partner of the Year, Websense EMEA Triton Partner of the Year, and Sophos Mid-Market Reseller of the Year.